Citgo's Corpus Christi refinery shutting as Harvey looms

Citgo Petroleum is shutting its Corpus Christi oil refinery, said two sources, as a tropical storm that threatens to become a major hurricane by the weekend approaches the Texas coast.

On Thursday, forecasters said Tropical Storm Harvey is expected to become a Category 3 hurricane packing 115 mile-per-hour (100 knot) wind speeds by landfall late Friday or early Saturday.

A spokeswoman for Citgo, the U.S. refining arm of Venezuela state-own oil company PDVSA, could not immediately be reached for comment. In a statement earlier today, the company said it was prepared to implement its contingency plans "if and when necessary." (Reporting by Gary McWilliams)